Pixy have undergone quite a transformation in my eyes, moving from noisy drop-style music to funky experimentations that offer a fresh voice in K-pop’s girl group landscape. New single Karma feels like a distillation of all these sounds… for better or worse. It has its standout moments, but they’re undercut by a jarring drop that … Continue reading
We’ll take a brief hiatus from the usual Sunday Open Discussion post today because my annual “Risers and Fallers” feature always spurs conversation. Every July, I like to take a look at which songs have either grown or sunk on my own playlist. With years of reviewing under my belt and a pretty solid understanding … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. June 2022 Overall Thoughts I’ll be publishing my top songs of the first half of 2022 … Continue reading
While I haven’t been sold on Pixy’s title tracks thus far, last year’s b-side turned English-language single Bewitched hinted at a more beguiling sound. By dabbling in dynamic electronic textures, Pixy found a niche worth exploring further. So, when teasers suggested new single Villain might build on this momentum, my interested was piqued. Opening with … Continue reading
This was a very uneventful year for K-pop rookies. There were no big agency debuts until Xdinary Heroes a few days ago, leaving 2021 to acts who were more under-the-radar. For me, none of these rookies were consistently excellent. Some released one or two knockout songs, only to follow-up with underwhelming returns. Others are too … Continue reading
2021 will mark the sixth time I’ve deconstructed a “Year in K-pop” through a variety of countdowns. Add a wealth of throwback posts and countdowns, and I feel like I’ve gained some perspective. K-pop has changed a lot since I started this blog at the beginning of 2016, but I’m not sure it’s changing nearly … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. October 2021 Overall Thoughts When I averaged all my song ratings of October, I was surprised … Continue reading
*Switching this post from “buried treasure” to “song review,” and including the mv for the English version below. The review corresponds to the Korean version. Listening to Pixy’s new album, I feel like I finally understand the appeal of the group. Title track Addicted might actually be the weakest of the four songs, with Bewitched … Continue reading
I often write about the idea of a “signature sound,” and how important it is to rookie groups. Pixy haven’t yet released a song that’s connected with me, but I appreciate how they stick to their concept. When playing one of their tracks, you know you’re going to get something dark, moody and musically combative. … Continue reading
The lore surrounding Pixy’s concept seems refreshing and engaging, but I found their debut track to be a noisy attack that compensated for its lack of hooks with a surplus of bombast. Still, it isn’t easy to craft a killer debut, and often times a group will quickly find their footing with their follow-up. I … Continue reading
Debut girl group Pixy is perhaps most notable as the new home of former Cherry Bullet leader Mirae (rechristened Ella, here). Their pre-release teasers hinted at a darker, fantasy-themed concept. I’m always up for more fantasy aesthetics in K-pop, especially since Oh My Girl has all-but abandoned them of late. However, Wings plays more like … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 